Jerome, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jerome, Michigan
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Looking north along North Jerome Road
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 Jerome, Michigan
Location in Michigan
Jerome, Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Hillsdale |
| Township | Somerset |
| Settled | 1871 |
| Elevation | 1,122 ft (342 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code(s) |
49249
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| Area code(s) | 517 |
| GNIS feature ID | 629265 |
Jerome is a small community in Hillsdale County, Michigan. It's not a city or a town with its own government. Instead, it's a part of Somerset Township. Even though it doesn't have its own mayor, Jerome does have its own post office. It uses the ZIP Code 49249.
Contents
Exploring Jerome's Location
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Jerome is a small community in the northeast part of Hillsdale County. This area is in southeast Michigan. The community is located inside Somerset Township. It sits at a height of about 1,122 feet (342 meters) above sea level.
Nearby Places and Roads
Jerome is about 3 miles (4.8 km) south of the border with Jackson County. No big highways go right through Jerome. But U.S. Route 12 (East Chicago Road) is about 2 miles (3.2 km) north. The closest airport is Davis Field, which is privately owned.
Other small communities nearby include Moscow to the northwest. Somerset Center and Lake LeAnn are to the northeast. Wheatland is to the southeast. The village of North Adams is to the southwest.
Lakes and Parks in Jerome
Goose Lake is a 69-acre (28 ha) lake just north of the community's center. This lake connects to other lakes through Goose Creek. This creek is part of the River Raisin watershed.
You can also visit the Kathe & Cali Memorial County Park. It's 20 acres (8.1 ha) and is located along Goose Lake. For adventure, the Bundy Hill Offroad Park is just north of Jerome. It's known as the largest private off-road vehicle park in southeast Michigan.
Jerome's Post Office and Schools
Jerome has its own post office. It's located at 8650 North Jerome Road. The 49249 ZIP Code for Jerome covers a larger area. This includes parts of Adams Township, Moscow Township, and Wheatland Township. A small part of Liberty Township in Jackson County also uses this ZIP Code. Students in Jerome attend North Adams-Jerome Schools. These schools are located southwest in Adams Township.
Jerome's Past: A Look at History
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In 1869, a railroad company started building train tracks through the forests of western Somerset Township. This area was not very developed back then. But people quickly started to settle there because of the new railway. A train station was built, and land was sold for a new community.
How Jerome Got Its Name
On April 18, 1871, a landowner named Jerome Smith officially planned out the new community. He named it Jerome, after himself. On the same day, Jerome also got its own post office. Jerome Smith became the first postmaster. He also worked for the railroad. The post office has been open ever since. The train station was also named Jerome. It soon became part of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway. Jerome grew quickly and appeared on a map of Somerset Township in 1872.
Growth and Businesses
Jerome grew as a farming and trading community. The new railway helped people ship grain and other products. Many businesses opened in Jerome. By 1879, the community had a boarding house, four general stores, and a meat market. It also had hat makers, a shoe shop, a blacksmith, and a doctor. There was a schoolhouse, a hotel, and a church.
In the early 1890s, another railroad line was built through the area. However, it did not build a train station in Jerome. The two train lines crossed each other in Jerome. The Jerome Creamery Company started in 1899. It used the railways to send its products as far north as Pontiac.
Schools and Railroads Change
In 1906, a large brick schoolhouse was built. It was the only building for Jerome Public Schools. This school taught all grades. In the early 1950s, it joined with the school district in North Adams. They formed North Adams-Jerome Schools.
After the merger, the Jerome schoolhouse became an elementary school. Older students went to North Adams for their education. The Jerome Public Schools building closed by the end of the 1960s. Today, the building is a community center and a public park. Both railway lines that ran through Jerome were eventually removed. Jerome is no longer served by any railroads.
